Aegiruu

Maybe like the Matrix? The processing power of human consciousness/brain (the original plot of the Matrix, instead of the bio-energy plot from the movies) is what supports the Kalendarium? That would explain the heartless disease. And individual's mind is overdraw and blows like an electrical fuse.

My new theory, or my previous backup theory, is that its a sort of simulation, and the the new world is either reality or a different plain of existence. Kinda like the matrix. And awakening, the Kalendaria, or going in and out of the new world all play a role in spreading the virus-like heartless disease. The reason they can't see to find a pathogen or vector for the disease is that its in the super structure of the simulation, which can't be seen by normal people. The reason that some new world people are ambivalent about it is like that dude in the Matrix who wants to get plugged back in. Some mind corridor awakened are happy to almost never return to the "virtual world" and others don't ever want to step foot into the new world like Oray. That's also why almost all the the abilities are mental (even the ones that seem physical) because their bodies are not "real" in some sense, just their minds.

Haha, this was my theory. I wonder if a reader commented it to cuttlefish earlier on and he included it. He has mentioned in interviews that writing webnovels is somewhat collaborative. Guess its not super likely to be the final answer, so that's a bit disappointing but its fun to see the nod to the theory.

I think trivial or niche are better words than funny. Maybe even silly is better. Not sure if that is a translation wall or what. Like in LotM some powers seem pointless unless used in specific circumstances, and at that moment they are incredibly useful.

This. All the listed attributes are somewhat quantifiable, whereas intelligence, decision making, problem solving (while all useful) are much harder to define, and even harder to explain biologically. Even something like brain size isn't a good indicator of intelligence (though its is somewhat good). Neanderthals for instance had larger brains than our ancestors, but lost the evolutionary battle with us. Theoretically, you could improve neurons or myelin function and improve brain function, but even that would only effect 'speed' of thinking and not necessarily quality of thinking. Even a hypothetical improvement in memory wouldn't necessarily improve intelligence.

definitely, but it seems more like neurological interference than like psychokinesis. neat imo.

he already used it in the base to gain entrance to that religious group. Its just not as obvious when its not combat.

even for people not paying attention, after the accomplice 'forgetting' how to pull the trigger... it should be pretty obvious that some shenanigans are afoot. (although the early hours religious meeting at the base should have been a sufficient hint). I saw a lot of people commenting that they don't get the MC. I guess subtle (and its not even that subtle) writing is out of some people's range.

People have different values than you, especially in non-western countries. I thought it was an interesting part of the story to explore what happens to people on the path to power who are presented with this choice (if you recall correctly most of the men of the assassin pathway and women of the hunter pathway are sort of mentally scarred or disturbed), but I understand that some people would find that content uncomfortable or strange. I think even comparing it to transgenderism like the person you are replying to (who admittedly sounds bigoted) is a mistake anyway. 1) the transition in the story is a biological one, which is something we aren't even close to capable of doing today and maybe never will be 2) Most of the people seem to unknowingly fall into the pathways without fully understanding the ramifications, except the one character who actively pursues the assassin pathway specifically to transition. That's very different than today's trans-movement which is based on voluntary medical treatment informed by their subjective self-perception. Not even close to "you need to become a woman, or else be stuck at your current level of strength," or even "surprise you are a woman now thanks to the potion you just took." This part of the novel is more a commentary on gender, biological sex, temperament, and self-identity than it is about modern transgenderism. Of course a magic potion capable of changing biological sex is likely something very appealing to the trans community, no doubt about that.

There was no gay or trans romance. I think he is referring to two of the pathways which had a biological sex requirement (at a certain point you would have to become a woman if you weren't already one, or a man for the other pathway). Its not really even trans, since its an actual biological sex change, rather than the faux or surface level change that is in society today. The 'women' created by this pathway were capable of bearing children. I honestly didn't have an issue with it since its frickin magic. It also presented an interesting question about what would happen to the people that were forced to undergo such radical changes in order to pursue power (spoiler: most/all of them go differing levels of crazy).